The Division is recognized as a global centre of excellence on issues related to investment and enterprise for sustainable development. Built on several decades of successful experience, its staff provide international expertise in research and policy analysis, inter-governmental consensus-building, and technical assistance to over 150 countries. Its flagship product is the annual World Investment Report and its main global stakeholder event is the biannual World Investment Forum. The Division also maintains the interactive World Investment Network of over 9,000 members to disseminate and promote all its work on investment and enterprise.

UNCTAD's fourth IIA Issues Note for this year looks at treaty termination rules in bilateral investment treaties (BITs). It finds that 1,300 BITs will have reached their "anytime termination stage" by the end of this year.

The report finds that G20 members have continued to honour their pledge not to introduce new restrictive policies for international investment. However, it cautions policymakers that foreign direct investment (FDI) may not only be limited through formal policy changes, but also through individual administrative decisions and informal public signals that are beyond the scope of the report.​